Towne Crier #23
TALL SHIPS IN JACK LONDON SQUARE
Two Tall Ships are berthed at the foot of Jack London Square, between Scott's and Jack's Bistro. They arrived from San Francisco Tuesday 9 March and will leave Sunday 20 March 2005. The biggest one is the Lady Washington which is 125 years old. The other, a schooner, is The Bill of Rights.
There are weekday tours 1-4pm for $4, and on the weekend there are harbor cruises of two varieties, three or four hours. One is more participatory than the other, meaning hands-on with the sailing. One cruise includes a mock battle between the two ships complete with cannons. I was at Kincaid's for dinner Saturday at dusk and they sailed right down the Estuary and the cannon went off. Quite an experience.
After the ships leave Jack London Square, they go to Redwood City and then Sausalito. In the works is a West Coast Tall Ships Challenge Race Series.
The ships have a website with complete information www.ladywashington.org; or call 800/200LADY.
SIGNATURE PROPERTY UPDATE
The Signature Property, on Third, between Alice and Harrison, is moving full speed ahead on its construction. Ten days ago, the back hoe dug up railroad ties behind the Greeno and Bay Cities Paper Building. The Signature owners are saving the removed trestle, ties and spikes, and they will be incorporated into the lobby display area. In speaking with the Signature Offsite Manager, I learned that the railroad ties date back to the 1880s. And now, I am the proud owner of two of the spikes.
For those who moved into our building after 1996, you missed out on the trains running on Third Street. Weren't you lucky. I too was fortunate. I moved in Thanksgiving week, just days after they stopped running.
Neither the Signature Manager or I could figure out just how the tracks went, to be curved around Alice Street and behind those two remaining buildings. Maybe it was a trestle or something, which branched off the main tracks to go behind those two buildings for loading into their loading docks. Anyone know?
I'm told that the Signature pit digging will start in one-three weeks, and after that there will jackhammers for the pile driving. The piles go around the perimeter of the site. You can already see signs of readiness - there are 'pads' of crushed rock for the heavy equipment to sit.
SIMON WADDINGTON of Tower Lofts has set up a webcam for the new Signature site and it can be found at http://www.jacklondondistrict.org/webcam/.
Simon is working on setting up time lapse movies, so stay tuned!
FARMER'S MARKET MOVE
Some of the vendors have moved from down by the Ferry to the area by Kincaid's and El Pescatore. Now all the Farmer's Market vendors are in one area, stretching from The Last Chance Saloon down to Jack's Bistro. The walkway between Jack's and Tony Roma's is clear, and the Artisans now occupy the area from Tony Roma's to the Potomac, which used to be food vendors. The move occurred two weeks ago, and puts some of the Market vendors closer to us.
PAULETTA CHANCO RECEPTION AND EXHIBITION
Our own PAULETTA CHANCO, who created the Encaustic in our lobby, has two exhibitions and a reception upcoming. She has a Solo Show 2 April-30 April 2005 at the Takada Gallery, 251 Post Street #610, San Francisco CA 94108. The Reception is Opening Day, Saturday 2 April 2005 from 3-5pm at the Gallery.
The other Exhibition is "Abstraction: Spirit and Space" at the Hearst Art Gallery at St. Mary's College in Moraga CA. It begins this Saturday and runs through 24 April 2005.
DISTRICT THREE COFFEE BREAKS
We live in Oakland District Three, and our Councilmember is NANCY NADEL. She started last month to hold a monthly 'Coffee Break' the last Saturday of each month from 11am-1pm at World Ground Cafe, 308 Jackson Street on the corner of Third and Jackson - around the corner from us. The next one will be Saturday 26 March 2005.
District Three's website is www.District3Oakland.org and the phone number is 510/238-7003. The office is located on the second floor at One Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland, 94612.
RODNEY'S ROUTE
Rodney, our mailman, has an overwhelming job with all the new buildings in the neighborhood, so sometimes our mail is delivered late into the afternoon. Especially on Mondays. Recently the USPS acknowledged the expanding route and sent out a survey team to track it. I don't know what that means, but in the meantime, we can be understanding.
SUPERMARKET DELIVERIES
There aren't any supermarkets right in the neighborhood, but we do have access to both Albertson's and Safeway. Or better put, they have access to us. They deliver to our building. Both supermarket chains have online ordering with next day delivery. There usually is a $10 delivery charge, but often there are promotional specials, coupons or incentives which essentially make it free. I chatted up the Albertson's delivery guy recently, and he gave me four $10 off coupons on orders of $75 or more, good until the end of the year. Contact me if you're interested in the coupon, first come, first served.
Albertsons.com or Safeway.com.
FOOD FARM'ACY
The new Food Mill outlet affiliated with Kaiser is in the MB Center on W. MacArthur Boulevard, across from Kaiser's main hospital building on the corner of MacArthur and Broadway. The health food store, which advertises No Trans Fat, is in the retail space formerly occupied by Radio Shack. One does not have to be a Kaiser member to shop.
It has fresh and frozen health food, as well as dry goods and sandwich items to go - all with the mandate to be "compatible with weight-control programs offered at Kaiser." There also are vitamins and supplements, as well as health information, and a Kaiser
There is no parking nearby on W. MacArthur, but the store is next to the stairs to the upstairs MB Center rooftop parking lot which has reasonable rates including no charge if the trip is under half an hour. The parking lot entrance is around the corner on Piedmont Avenue.
The original Food Mill is still located in East Oakland, on MacArthur Boulevard, between 35th and Fruitvale Avenues. It's been around for 72 years.
Just an aside here, I'm told that Kaiser is the largest employer in the City of Oakland.
NEW EATERIES
Retail is moving into the Sierra lofts block, and two new eateries are going in next door to each other on Madison, between Fourth and Third - two blocks from our building. They're both in the setup stage. Subway Sandwiches is at 336 Madison, and Sierra Deli & Market will be at 311 Oak Street #C3, at the corner of Third and Madison. *
EAST BAY RESTAURANT SUPPLY SALE
For those who are interested in kitchen decor and appliances, the Annual three-day Half Off sale is coming - Thursday 31 March through Saturday 2 April 2005.
There had been some neighborhood speculation that a grocery store would move into the EBRS space at 49 Fourth Street, but evidently EBRS is not moving. It is opening a Sacramento store soon.
SPORTSWEAR SALE
Back in that same area, down at the other end of Fourth Street, past Oak Street, is a sports wear factory and outlet, which appears to be closing down. They are having a sale. Most of what they have are sweatshirts, vests and jackets. Lots and lots of topwear.
FARMER'S CAFE
On the corner of Oak and Fourth is another new eatery, with Chinese-American fare. So far I haven't heard anything that positive.
REGAL JACK LONDON aka JACK LONDON CINEMA - FREQUENT PATRON CARD
RETAIL CHANGES IN JACK LONDON SQUARE
The high-end Stereo store across from Barnes & Noble closed and now the window has a model of the new development project in Jack London Square.
The empty storefront next to Olga's Russian Curios shop, in the walkway between Jack's Bistro and Tony Roma's, is rumored to be getting a furniture store. And TGIF's will be torn down for a hotel. Don't hold me to it.
Jake's Seafood Restaurant at Fourth and Broadway closed down over the winter. The owner has a place at the Oakland Coliseum and in Berkeley.